Poinsettia plant named ‘Q104’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Q104’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; large and full inflorescences with numerous yellow-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Q104’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Q104’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create uniform and freely-branching Poinsettia plants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2015 in Sabro, Denmark of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Mojito’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2012-0099, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Q104’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Q104’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Large and full inflorescences with numerous yellow-colored         flower bracts.     -   6. Excellent post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Mojito’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of ‘Mojito’ in flower bract color as flower bracts of plants of ‘Mojito’ are light yellow and green in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower bract color as flower bracts of plants of the male parent selection are yellow orange in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘NPCW10164’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,597. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of ‘NPCW10164’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘NPCW10164’.     -   2. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are shorter         than flower bracts of plants of ‘NPCW10164’.     -   3. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are light         orange to yellow orange in color whereas flower bracts of plants         of ‘NPCW10164’ are red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Q104’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of second sheet is a close-up view of a typical dissected inflorescence of ‘Q104’.

The photograph at the bottom of second sheet is a close-up view of the lower and upper surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Q104’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks after planting and plants were 20 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘Q104’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.             ‘Mojito’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia             pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 2012-0099, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 161D, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; inverted triangle with rounded crown;             large full inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to tope of foliar plane.—About 15             cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to tope of floral plane.—About 15             cm to 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm to 50 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit, about three to six lateral branches develop             after pinching. Length: About 15 cm to 30 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 4 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Angle: Mostly upright. Color, developing: Close             to 143C. Color, developed: Close to 138A; at the internodes,             close to 146A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement and appearance: Alternate,             simple. Length: About 12 cm to 16 cm. Width: About 8 cm to             12 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate             to slightly cordate. Margin: Entire, medium lobed. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; leathery; matte             to slightly glossy. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A and 141A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to N189A; venation, close to 189A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 189A; venation, close to 191B.             Petioles: Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close             to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Large full inflorescences are             compound corymbs of cyathia with yellow-colored flower             bracts subtending the cyathia; one inflorescence per lateral             branch with inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally during the             autumn and winter under long nyctoperiod conditions;             inflorescence initiation and development can be induced             under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions; early             flowering habit, response time is about eight to nine weeks             after start of long nyctoperiod conditions.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good             substance and bract color for about six to eight weeks under             interior conditions; flower bracts persistent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 14 to 20.             Length: About 8 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 7 cm to 8 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire,             occasionally shallowly lobed. Venation: Pinnate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; velvety;             matte. Aspect: Mostly horizontal. Color: Developing             (transitional) bracts, upper surface: Variable sectors,             close to 160A and 138A. Developing (transitional) bracts,             lower surface: Variable sectors, close to 146D. Fully             expanded bracts, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 1C;             color does not change with development. Flower bract             petioles: Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A to             145B.         -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About five to ten. Length:             About 4 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Shape:             Rounded. Color, developing, inner surface: Close to 145C.             Color, developing, outer surface: Close to 144A to 144B.             Color, fully developed, inner surface: Close to 145C. Color,             fully developed, outer surface: Close to 138A. Nectaries:             Quantity per cyathium: If present, typically one. Length:             About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing, inner surface: Close to 145B.             Color, developing, outer surface: Close to 144A. Color,             fully developed, inner surface: Close to 15A. Color, fully             developed, outer surface: Close to 15B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Angle: Mostly upright. Color: Close             to 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:             About 50. Filament length: About 1 mm to 5 mm. Filament             color: Close to 157A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 162A. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11A. Pistils: To date,             pistil development has not been observed on plants of the             new Poinsettia.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Poinsettia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Poinsettia plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 12° C. to about     35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Q104’ as illustrated and described. 